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I have already taken my last flight, 4 years ago, round trip Tampa to Islip, Long Island.
I was 84 and have done my share of flying. Our destination was a family reunion on the east end of Long Island, so Islip was a far better choice than the "rat race" airports around NYC.
Personally, I only do carry on (to save time rather than waiting 20-30 minutes for checked luggage at a carousel, assuming it does not get mishandled)….on a recent trip to Brazil it was a solid mile plus walk from the gate to Customs carrying my baggage without wheels….though in great shape not sure how many years beyond 75 that becomes too much of a nuisance. I’m 63 now and hoping to get more/as much long distance travel as I can before 70.
Yeah, I suppose I can always request a golf cart ride but not sure if those are always available. I certainly will not be traveling overseas if, god forbid, I need wheelchair assistance.
Get a carry-on with wheels for heaven sakes. I pack mine so heavy that carrying it to the car from my front door is too heavy. With wheels it doesn't matter one bit.
I certainly will not be traveling overseas if, god forbid, I need wheelchair assistance.
My 69 year old friend who has severe arthritis and lots of pain, but is still ambulatory for some distances (mostly short) with a cane, has been using the wheelchair service in airports on his multiple and frequent European trips many times every year. It's been a life-saver for him.
After our long flights back from Europe this last month, we decided that whenever possible, we'll try to break up super long flights into legs of more reasonable length, and we'll spend a day or two at the intermediary point. It'll save us from wasting the first day in our destination wiped out from the travel. Some overseas flights are just super long, and if you have connecting flights to get to the long flight, and a layover in between, it really makes for long days.
I've found that if you reserve early, and then check back a couple weeks before departure, the airlines will sometimes be offering cheap upgrades to fill first class, and the last few days before the flight they may still have cheapish upgrades to business class to offer. I recently got an upgrade to first class on a cross country flight for slightly over $100 extra, and upgraded to business for $160 on a flight from Lisbon to the US, the week before the trip. It pays to keep checking back with the airline. These last minute upgrades are often not available through 3rd party apps or websites like Travelocity, etc, but are if you check directly with the airline.
My last flight 2020, when I was almost 68. I do not anticipate EVER flying again unless things radically change within ten years, in which flying will be a no-hassle and pleasant experience, which I doubt very much will ever happen.
I especially refuse to fly to a blue state, including California, which makes me sad because my 90-year-old mom and my two surviving sister live there, but I am not willing to put up with the California craziness and possible flying restrictions if COVID raises its ugly head again to a very large degree. (And, btw, it is probably best that I don't go back because my family and I have become very divided about politics and social issues which might lead to some arguments, and I have no other reason to visit California except to visit them. Very sad.)
I went to Ireland in June shortly before I turned 68. Coming home the airline offered me a upgrade to premium economy for 145 which I took. What a difference the bigger seat made. I had plenty of leg room and if the person in front of me reclined they weren’t practically in my lap. I am going to France with a friend in 2 years. With having to take 3 flights I was up for over 24 hours. My mom traveled until about 83. I don’t know how many years I will go overseas but will always travel domestically.
Long Haul flights, Depends on you, your health. and potential of blood clots!
A good friend (early 80's) who frequently went to Singapore (18 hr direct flights) and NZ (12 hr) but even with massage devices has had blood clotting issues with legs, so needs to take shorter segments with a day+ for a 'rest' / walking. It is possible to hop to several stops getting to faraway destinations. But it's tough westbound over the Pacific. I'd rather go direct to Japan for the first stop (8hrs), than Hawaii. But if heading to NZ, Hawaii and Cook Islands would be nice stop-overs.
Another friend flew from CO to Ireland to meet us for her 93rd BD
FIL takes 4-6 hr flights at age 97. Some travel days add up to over 16 hrs, home to home. (long car routes to airports). He refuses a wheelchair assist. But getting through terminals for transfers is getting slower.
Hope I'm still flying commercially at 100, but chances are slim.
Just watched a special on the Pan Am 'Clippers' of 1938-41 (Boeing 314) They had a lot of space to move around (Flying hotel). That would be nice! A private Charter 747 or A380 would probably do. (for a price)
I know a couple in their 80's, they refuse to fly cross country to Ca. to see their children because they are afraid to get strokes from flying. I know two people in their 70's who got TIA's (mini-strokes) a week after flying, and one person who died a week after a flight (cause unknown). Flying isn't worth the risk of strokes, imo.
We are early seventies and are flying Sydney to Johannesburg in May, via Singapore. Then hopefully to Madrid and London in September.
Booking from here, Business is generally five times the cost of Economy and we feel it is just not worth it, much as we would like the extra space. We often have a two or three night stop over to break up the trip.
My ninety year old friend is returning to Sydney this week from Rome, having been in Italy for about four weeks, sightseeing. As she cannot get travel insurance she is flying non-stop Rome to Perth, which means she has been covered by the reciprocal health care arrangements between Australia and Italy. Her eighty-eight year old friend who joined her in Rome, has to fly home via London, which is a bit of a worry with the Queen’s funeral happening this week. Her son told her she was too old to travel Economy and gave her points to go business.
These ladies are my inspiration and I hope we can keep travelling for the next fifteen years, or so. Still have to see Iceland, Malta and many other places.
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We are in early and late 60s and in Bali - it's a paradise but the long flight from California via Korea was a killer. In one week we are taking Singapore Airlines nonstop home to SFO. It's economy class but at least it's not United - the Hong Kong to SFO flight that I took a few years back was a killer - no leg room and barely any food.
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